Heaven (The Afterlife Series #1) by Mur Lafferty

Release Date: April 27, 2011
Publisher: Restless Brain Media
Series: The Afterlife Series, Book 1
Author Website:  http://www.murverse.com

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Kate and Daniel were best friends, sharing everything from intimate details of their lives to most of their secrets. When their lives reached the end of the line, it came as no surprise that they went together. Each of them found their versions of Heaven, enjoying everything that was offered until questions began to scrape away the glitz and glamor.

Kate and Daniel decided to strike out on their own journey, to see everything that Heaven had to offer those who made it through the gates. Along the way, they discovered that nothing was really what it seemed and something wrong bubbled beneath the surface of happiness and joy. Their adventure began a series of changes throughout the other versions of Heaven and left them rushing off into unknown lands. Can they discover the truth behind the changes before it's too late? Will they be lost forever in the vast open road around Heaven?


Review:
Thanks to Podiobooks I discovered this series and other writings by the author many years ago. To be honest, it was one of the few audiobooks that I really wanted to see in print. When I came across the Kindle version on Amazon, it took less than a minute of debating before I purchased the series. It was interesting to read the words on the page and still hear the author's voice in my head. Even after a number of years, the book still captivated me as I delved deeper into the adventures of Kate and Daniel in the afterlife.

Much of the book focused on Kate and Daniel after their untimely deaths. Seen through Kate's eyes, Heaven was very much a place determined by the person's ideas, wants and how he or she saw the afterlife.  Kate's personality, quirks and beliefs stayed the same after she awoke in Heaven, as did many of her likes and dislikes. The same occurred for Daniel, although they didn't share the same vision of Heaven. The fact that their relationship carried over into the afterlife made it easy for me to keep up with the various changes around them as they journeyed through different times, places and even some versions of paradise that I wouldn't have imagined. Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Demi-gods from a wide spectrum of belief systems made appearances in the story. They did more than simply stand around while the Travelers went about their adventure. These Supreme Beings also impacted the duo's thinking and actions, causing all kinds of chaos for everyone.

Because both Kate and Daniel were early twenty-somethings at the time of their deaths, it was easy to relate to their thoughts and feelings. The dialogue was current, brash and honest at times. I liked the descriptions the author used to relay the differences between the different versions of Heaven that they encountered. The way the people dressed, the food they ate, how the religion of that particular section affected the daily life - all were written in a such a way that the reader could understand even if the reader had little or no knowledge about that particular religion. The action came quickly and propelled the story forward. At a steady pace, the story led from one idealized version of Heaven through various others. Each time the two of them left for another, there were consequences. Sometimes a lot of the consequences weren't always on the good side of things.

Overall, I really liked this book. I actually noticed a few things about their time in Greece and Dog Heaven that I didn't catch when listening to the audiobook. Having the Kindle format allowed me to zero in on these additions and it added a hint of comedy to the book. There's so much more going on with the story, I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Between the changes Kate and Daniel brought to the afterlife and the awkwardness of the love triangle developing, I can't wait to see what happens. If you're looking for a different take on what happens when one leaves their mortal life behind or a wondrous new adventure filled with gods, goddesses and more, then this book is something you need to have on your shelf.

Heaven (The Afterlife Series #1) by Mur Lafferty is currently available at many online retailers in digital format. The following link will bring up the book's page at Amazon.
Heaven (The Afterlife Series #1) by Mur Lafferty

The Ultimate Gift (The Ultimate Gift #1) by Jim Stovall

Release Date: June 15, 2001
Publisher: David C. Cook
Series: The Ultimate Gift series, Book 1
Author Website: http://www.jimstovall.com/

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
When Red Stevens died, he was at the patriarch of a very wealthy family, having made his fortune from lots of hard work in both the oil and cattle fields. His surviving family members gathered around the large conference table and awaited the reading of Red's will by his long-time friend and lawyer, Theodore Hamilton. Each of the family members received their portion of the wealth, along with certain conditions, except one - his great-nephew, Jason Stevens.

In order to receive his inheritance known as the Ultimate Gift, Jason must meet with Hamilton on the first of the month and find what lesson he needed to learn to move onto the next month and lesson. After a rough start and struggles of will, the wisdom of Red's lessons soon became clear to Jason and those on the journey with him. Will he be able complete the year-long test that Red laid before him? Will Red's hopes for the future of his family be gone with his death?

Review:
My mother-in-law and I watched the movie during Christmas years before I knew it was based upon a series of novels. When I saw this book offered on OHFB, I decided to see how well it related to the movie, but I would also keep an open mind about the differences should they present themselves. The biggest difference between the two was the perspective in which the entirety of the story was told. While the movie was able to focus on all of the characters in depth, this book followed Jason's journey from Theodore Hamilton's point-of-view.

Even though Mr. Hamilton was the guide or narrator of the story, Jason Stevens and his journey to complete the twelve tasks over the course of a year were the primary focus. He's a spoiled young man who hasn't had to do much in order to make ends meet. In order to save his life and help him make something of himself, his great-uncle's last wish directed Jason's stubbornness toward the tasks of learning the simple truths and pleasures life has to offer. There was as much to learn about Red and Theo as there was about Jason. Since the story was written from Theo's perspective, we're privy to his thoughts most of the time. Red offered his thoughts in video-taped messages that were played at the beginning of each session with the lawyer and at the end of Jason's journey, should he make it.

The book was a fairly quick read once the chain of events were set in motion by Red's death. Monthly tasks were covered within one or two chapters. Unfortunately, there was a bit of repetition a few chapters about how much of a great guy Red was to Theo and how at any time the process can be stopped if Theo wasn't satisfied with Jason's performance in the goals. Even had I not seen the movie beforehand, I still would be frustrated that I wasn't able to see more of Jason's transformation from the surly, spoiled kid into a more mature adult within the book. There's so much emphasis on the journey and the lessons that to not see more of the transformation was a letdown in some ways for me.

Overall, the book was a light, inspirational read. It was especially fitting for reading during the Christmas season. Though it lacked more depth in a few areas, it presented good cases for honesty, hard work, love and giving that aren't forgotten in our busy world. The message came home without a lot of over-the-top sappy stuff that some books use to move the story along. If you're looking for a decent delivery of some good messages, please pick up a copy of this book and share it with those you love.

The Ultimate Gift (The Ultimate Gift #1) by Jim Stovall is currently available at many retailers, both online and local. It can be purchased in various formats including hardcover, paperback, audio-book and digital (Kindle). The link below will take you to the book's Amazon page.
The Ultimate Gift (The Ultimate Gift #1) by Jim Stovall  

Angels in the Fire: The Dramatic True Story of an Impossible Rescue by Dann Stadler

Release Date: July 1, 2013
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
On an early September night in 1989, what should have been a night of celebration became a night of terror for Dann and Tracey Stadler. After leaving dinner with family, they made their way to the home of Tracey's parents. That's where they were staying during their anniversary vacation. A split second later, they were fighting for their lives.

A drunk driver hit their vehicle head-on, going nearly 70 mph and leaving little chance for anyone to survive. It would take a miracle, and one was given. Not only did the couple survive the crash, but they were left with questions of life, faith and forgiveness. Follow both Dan and Tracey as they make their journey from the events of that night to all the experiences that awaited them during their healing.

Review:
I'll be honest. When I entered the Goodreads giveaway for this book, I thought it was going to be about firefighters and their jobs as community servants because I didn't read the descriptive blurb closely. After winning and receiving the book, I quickly found the real story to be just as intriguing and quite a journey. I was glad that I was given a chance to read and review this book.

Right from the beginning, the reader is made aware of two things. One, a horrific accident took place on that September evening in 1989. Two, the couple's faith in God is a major driving force in both their rescue and recovery journey that followed. Their faith is exemplified from the first paragraph where they give the other driver a false name in order to spare his family anymore grief or hurt. That takes a large amount of compassion and forgiveness and isn't often seen in the world today.

This book draws information from many sources including news media, eye witness accounts and the accounts of both Dann and Tracey as well as their family members. If you are a tender-hearted person, I would recommend having a box of tissues nearby as the story of their recovery will give plenty of awe inspiring and praiseworthy moments.

Because the book is written by Dann, one of the survivors of the crash, we're given a lot of glimpses of their lives. I think the open and honest way in which everything is presented allows the reader to feel as though they are there alongside the couple and experiencing everything at the same time. The way the journey is arranged is straightforward, beginning directly before the accident and continuing through their immediate recovery before finishing to present day. While the not stymied in medial jargon or filled with every detail, the record Dann has crafted moves along at a comfortable pace that really allows the reader to absorb everything. From the desperation felt during the frightful moments just after the crash to the triumph of overcoming the adversities through strong wills, gritty determination and a fire-hardened faith, everything is laid out for the reader in a way that is easy to understand.

In the end, I truly enjoyed reading this book. Dann and Tracey Stadler's faith goes beyond words. They live it, breathe it and practice it without hesitation. It was so before the accident and was reaffirmed through their trials and tribulations. Yes, many parts were difficult to read through but I imagine the difficulty was many times worse for those who lived through it. If you are looking for an uplifting, inspiring read, then I suggest you pick up this book.

Angels in the Fire: The Dramatic True Story of an Impossible Rescue by Dann Stadler is currently available at many online retailers in both paperback and Kindle forms. It can be purchased at Amazon by following the link below.
Angels in the Fire: The Dramatic True Story of an Impossible Rescue by Dann Stadler

A Season of Mysteries by Rusty Whitener

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Can the events of one year impact our lives twenty or thirty years down the road? For Professor Richard Powell and his group of childhood friends, the answer is undoubtedly yes. In 1971, he and his friends named their group the Fellowship of the Rock in order to honor the bond between them forged by their friendship with a fallen friend as well as their conversions to Christ.

In 1976, the faith of those within the Fellowship will be tested as a new battle looms on the horizon. Richard and his comrades come face to face with what could very well be a demon on a mission to find something, an item it has been hunting for twenty-five years. Will the Fellowship stay strong as it is tested? Will their faith falter in the face of adversity? What will it all mean for those involved years later?
 
Review:
I won this book from a giveaway at Goodreads.com and was drawn in by the blurb used to describe the book. At the time, I didn't know that the subject matter was so heavy but when I dove into the book, it truly didn't matter. The story moved at a pretty good pace that the weight of the words didn't have time to bear down on the reader's shoulders for too long before moving onto the next subject.

This book is the second in a series that began with A Season of Miracles, where we're introduced to Richard and his band of brothers as they face some pretty grownup situations and come together in the way that tragedy and triumph can connect others. I was very pleased to learn that it also is a great stand-alone read. While some of the plot is impacted by events in the first book, the author does a good job of letting the reader know the necessary information without completely rehashing the first book.

For me, the book did start off a little slow but began to pick up the pace quickly as the main plot presented itself. I was drawn into the book by the characters. Each of them were distinctly written and enjoyable to read. It was easy to envision myself among the Fellowship of the Rock as they went about their adventures. At times I found myself cheering, anxious and angry - signs that the author did his job well, in my opinion. Though the thread of finding salvation is woven into the the story, it's not beating the reader upside the head on a constant basis. Yes, there are moments where characters are compelled to convert but it's not the central theme of the story though it plays a vital part. If you are looking for a captivating, eccentric and enjoyable read, I recommend both this book and its predecessor, A Season of Miracles.

A Season of Mysteries by Rusty Whitener is available in various forms including paperback and Kindle. The book was originally released in April 2013 and published by Kregel Publications. It can be purchased at Amazon.com by clicking the link below.
A Season of Mysteries by Rusty Whitener